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Revelstoke

The Revelstoke Allure – The Freeski Haven of Interior British Columbia

The Revelstoke Allure – The Freeski Haven of Interior British Columbia

Featured Image: Ryan Creary


THE TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY, otherwise known as Highway 1, stretches from coast to coast to create the country’s biggest roadway. The rural mountain town of Revelstoke, B.C. is nestled in the crook of this massive transportation corridor but here, in the Columbia River Valley, the road doesn’t look like much. Hardly surpassing two lanes, it weaves through mountain passes and stunning national parks, connecting the towns of Calgary—five hours east—and Kelowna—two and a half hours west.

The funny thing about entering the interior of Western Canada is that your world expands and shrinks simultaneously. On the one hand, towns are fewer and farther between—the gaps of wilderness make you think twice about following signs to Revelstoke without first fueling up. On the other hand, this idyllic mountain town is a powder oasis that offers everything needed for a full escape. ‘Be careful,” locals say. “You might get Revelstuck.”—both literally and figuratively. You could get physically stuck in town when avalanche control shuts down the only major road, or you might just fall in love with the place and never leave.

On my first visit to Revelstoke, I was charmed by sidewalks bordered by chiseled, waist-high snowbanks and heritage-style houses that were adorned with fluffy white mounds. The natural world as I knew it had expanded tenfold, and I never looked back. Mountains dusted by snow in late September, rivers that originate at the base of hanging glaciers and trees so large you’d need six people to encircle it, arms outstretched. I never knew how many coffee shops a rural mountain town needed until they became my neighbors. Or how the three blocks at city center come to life after a Revelstoke Grizzlies hockey game—excited fans jumping from bar to bar.

Revelstoke is special in more ways than one, but the skiing is beyond comparison. Expansive and remote terrain combines with the world’s only inland temperate rainforest climate to create a place that’s not just unique; it’s one-of-a-kind. Imagine the volume of precipitation in a rainforest, only it’s snow. This is the reason that Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) is home to several world-renowned freeride competitions—the terrain provides an unparalleled skiing experience.

The sleepy town of Revelstoke offers more than meets the eye | Photo: Mattias Fredriksson

The professional skiers who call Revelstoke home would characterize themselves as the ones who got figuratively stuck here. Many resident pro skiers like Izzy Lynch, Chris Rubens, Logan Pehota and JJ Vinet came to Revelstoke to compete in the many competitions hosted here and, impressed by the world-class venues and terrain, decided to stay put. Lynch ended up moving to town after multiple trips that allowed her to explore the newly opened resort in 2008. With the most top-to-bottom vertical feet of any ski resort in North America and 3,121 acres of lift-accessed terrain, averaging more than 34 feet of snow annually, Lynch says, “I was in love with Revelstoke and knew I had to make it home.”

Local film icon Chris Rubens would agree. He came for the pillow playgrounds but stayed for the people. “The simple answer is that I came for the snow,” says Rubens. “The longer story is I stayed for the community, the summer and the incredible environment surrounding Revelstoke. Even as it gets busier, it‘s still really easy to find remote adventures without traveling far from town. The mountains here are enough to keep you busy for many lifetimes of adventure.”

Much like the terrain, the ski industry here is serious. Rubens says there’s a reason why so many professional organizations are based here—from a myriad of heli and cat ski operations to devout public safety organizations like Avalanche Canada. “We can get some really tricky avalanche conditions,” he says. “While these are challenging, it has shaped me as a skier, having to really dive deep into avalanche education. You’ll find that the average recreational skier from Revelstoke is very dialed-in.”

Much like the surrounding mountains, RMR has more terrain than meets the eye. While a frontside run like Kill The Banker looks thrilling with its steep cliff bands, and Separate Reality calls to you as you ride the aptly-named Stoke Chair, there’s so much more than the front face of the mountain if you’re up for an adventure.

JJ Vinet knows the mountain intimately. The professional freeskier got his start competing in the Freeride World Qualifier series and working as a professional ski patroller at RMR. He says the steepness is what makes the resort’s terrain so unique. “A lot of the groomed runs require winches on the snowcats just to groom them,” he says. “There’s also a lot of in-bounds terrain that you can hike to, and while it may be a little more work, it keeps the fresh snow longer. When you mix that with the amount of snow we get and the frequency of those snowfalls, it makes for some great days.”

I felt the thrill of discovering this terrain on one of my first trips. I took a hard left off the Stoke Chair—the mountain’s highest lift—onto the Lemming Line hike, which, from the chair, looks like a colorful conga line of Arc’teryx-clad figures with skis slung over their shoulders. If you get there early on one of the resort’s abundant pow days, you’ll see a small group of people gathered around a solitary patroller who’s guarding the bootpack while the avalanche control team does what they do best. You better believe that you want to be there when that rope drops.

The mild hike doesn’t take long and once you reach the top, the sweet salvation and definition of North Bowl comes into view. At that moment, the potential of the overall landscape and terrain unfolds—encompassing the rugged peak of Mount Mackenzie, Gracias Ridge and Greeley Bowl. Traverse the bowl to Greeley notch on Gracias Ridge and you’re almost guaranteed freshies as you drop into one of five chutes—Uno, Dos, Tres, Quatro or Cinco—before funneling back into the wide runout of the bowl below the Sub Peak. Take it a step further and tackle the Yamoto Hike and you won’t see a soul as you float through a long run of powder pockets and small cliff drops leading down to the Ripper Chair.

Revelstoke
Might as well be the top of the world | Photo: Tom Poole, Courtesy of Revelstoke Mountain Resort

RMR has come a long way since first opening in 2007 and, looking forward, has ambitious plans for continued expansion. With just six lifts built out of over 20 proposed in the master plan, RMR is on track for steady improvement. But the beauty of the current layout of the resort is that it retains a wild and free spirit, with practically zero lift lines.

Experiencing the abundance of world- renowned terrain at RMR is a rite of passage for any expert skier. My perception of the natural world expanded upon moving to Revelstoke, as did my connection to this place. To me, the hidden ski zones become even more intriguing when finding or reaching them requires effort—problem-solving, navigating difficult terrain or even knowing the right person to tell you about them. In Revelstoke, the hidden experiences have become a daily way of life, but I’m still exploring and discovering, from finding new zones at the resort to immersing myself in the unique community. Every day, the terrain reveals more, and the secret continues to unfold.


Revelstoke Mountain Resort

BASE ELEVATION: 1,680 ft

SUMMIT ELEVATION: 7,300 ft

VERTICAL RELIEF: 5,620 ft

SKIABLE ACRES: 3,121

LIFTS: 6

AVG. ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 416 inches

LOGISTICS

GETTING THERE

By Air
Kelowna Airport (YLW): Known as the gateway
to Revelstoke, YLW offers daily non-stop flights from several cities in the U.S. and Canada and is a 2.5 hour drive from Revy. Shuttle services and car shuttle schedules are a-plenty to seamlessly arrive on time for fresh tracks.

Revelstoke Airport (YRV): Located a mere two miles from Revelstoke, YRV’s flight price tags are worth the decent if you’re more on the hunt for a quick weekend jaunt.

By Land
For those who prefer the scenic route from the ground to start their ski trip ventures, driving Revy allows the powder enthusiasts the flexibility of chasing the storms. While the drive will involve trusty tires and preferred 4WD, the adventure will outweigh the white-knuckle moments. Be sure to stay up to date with DriveBC for live road condition updates.

WHERE TO STAY

The Sutton Place Hotel
The only ski-in/ski-out hotel on the resort, the Sutton Place Hotel offers hosts three on-site dining facilities—no walk mode needed. Their rooms can accommodate a wide variety of party sizes from studio-sized rooms to three bedroom condos (also pup-friendly).

Stoke Hotel
This funky, boutique style hotel sits along the beautiful Columbia River and is situated smack dab in between downtown Revelstoke and the resort. Add a cozy atmosphere, a newly renovated outdoor hot tub and a complimentary shuttle service to/ from the resort and consider us booked.

VRGE Hotel
This hotel caters towards the most diehard of outdoor enthusiasts. The VRGE offers a wide range of hotel room sizes including bunk options and occupies its entire third floor with an open-use kitchen and lounge. Only a 10 minute walk from home, you’ll find yourself in the heart of it all.

LOCAL TIPS

FOOD & DRINKS

Logan Pehota — EAT ON RESORT “The spicy crispy chicken burger at the Rockford at the base of the resort is a go-to, or the Smash burgers at Mackenzie Outpost at the top of the gondola. You can’t go wrong with either!”

JJ Vinet — INDULGE IN TOWN “The Village Idiot has a laid-back atmosphere with a pretty big menu. A go-to would have to be The Better Burger with no mushrooms, a side Caesar salad and an order of hot sauce.

JJ Vinet —Monashee Spirits Craft Distillery makes bespoke cocktails and has a HUGE spirits index. I’m a fan of Scotch, and they have one of the largest whiskey selections in Canada. A nice peaty Islay is always a favorite, but their smoked Negroni is out of this world, and their Monashee Mule, a take on a classic Moscow Mule, has got to be one of the freshest and best mules I’ve ever had.”

BEYOND THE RESORT

Ski touring near Revelstoke on the iconic Roger’s Pass is no secret but the terrain just outside
the resort is closer, and equally stunning. Hire Revelstoke Backcountry Guides to show you the steep, powder-laden trees of Montana Bowl, where the 2024 Natural Selection Tour took place, or crest the Ridge of Kokanee Bowl for breathtaking views of Mount Cartier.

Take advantage of being in the heli-ski capital of Canada and book a trip with with Selkirk Tangiers, Mica, CMH or Eagle Pass to explore the terrain that makes Revelstoke, B.C., a must-visit-ski destination.

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